SEAL BEACH, Calif., May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Rockwell International Corp. (NYSE: ROK) and its Navstar Global Positioning System (GPS) Team members have been awarded the 1992 Robert J. Collier Trophy, American aviation's highest honor. The award is presented annually by the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) to recognize the greatest achievement in improving the performance, efficiency, or safety of air or space vehicles during the preceding year.
NAA President Malvern J. Gross presented the award to the Navstar GPS Team last night at a National Aviation Club dinner at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. The GPS Team, which includes Rockwell; the U.S. Air Force; the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory; the Aerospace Corp., El Segundo, Calif.; and IBM Federal Systems Co., Bethesda, Md., was honored "for the most significant development for safe and efficient navigation and surveillance of air and spacecraft since the introduction of radio navigation 50 years ago." The team was selected in February from among eight finalists by a special 35-member committee of national aviation leaders named by Gross.
Rockwell Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Sam F. Iacobellis accepted the prestigious honor on behalf of Rockwell. "The Collier Trophy is recognized around the world as a symbol of aviation excellence," he said. "I'm extremely pleased for the men and women of Rockwell whose hard work in developing this revolutionary navigational aid has been recognized by their peers. Our true reward, however, comes from the satisfaction of our customers and the myriad commercial applications that continue to spawn from this vital new technology."
Navstar GPS is designed to provide instantaneous, precise, three- dimensional navigation data to properly equipped military and civilian users under all weather conditions around the world. It consists of a constellation of orbiting satellites, a ground control system, and thousands of GPS receiver systems.
GPS is significantly enhancing many functions provided by previous positioning and navigational equipment and is resulting in greater accuracy at lower cost. Current and potential applications range from mapping, aerial refueling and rendezvous, geodetic surveys, and air traffic control to transportation, space operations, and search and rescue operations.
Commercial sector GPS applications are varied and constantly expanding. For example, nearly all surveying is now done using GPS equipment. Rockwell's Trooper, a portable (under two pounds) GPS receiver, is designed for use by law enforcement, fire, and search and rescue operations, as well as by military units. Rockwell's NavCore V GPS receiver is being used in a state-of-the-art mobile navigation system being supplied to the Dallas Area Rapid Transit District, allowing precise monitoring of the agency's bus fleet. Real-time differential GPS is being used by the U.S. Coast Guard for harbor navigation, and widespread use of GPS for harbor and ship navigation is expected to reduce oil tanker accidents. GPS is being used to measure Earth movement along geological faults. Recreational use of GPS by hikers and boat owners is rapidly expanding. And a new industry is developing around the use of GPS receivers aboard aircraft, trucks and automobiles, ships, and satellites.
The unparalleled military capabilities of GPS were clearly demonstrated by U.S. and Allied forces in Operation Desert Storm. GPS-equipped F-16 and B-52 aircraft delivered bombs and guided munitions on specified military targets. GPS was used on the Navy's stand-off land attack cruise missile (SLAM) to attack heavily defended high-priority targets. Other naval use included locating, mapping, and sweeping mine fields and planning ship resupply rendezvous.
Army applications of GPS were equally effective. Apache helicopters, M60 tanks, and U.S. troops navigated the featureless terrain of the Saudi Arabian desert using hand-held GPS receivers. GPS was also used to site radar and artillery, and artillery fire was directed on Iraqi positions through the use of GPS-equipped forward observers.
In Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, GPS is being used on Air Force and civilian cargo aircraft for approach and landing at makeshift airfields. These fields lack the electronic landing aids available at most large airports, and GPS is proving invaluable in air-traffic control.
Established in 1912 as the "Aero Club of America Trophy" by Robert J. Collier, the award (renamed "The Robert J. Collier Trophy" in 1944) was first presented in 1912 to Glenn H. Curtiss for his development of the hydro-airplane (seaplane). Previous recipients include both individuals and organizations, ranging from such aviation and space legends as Orville Wright, Howard Hughes and Alan B. Shepard to organizations such as the U.S. Air Mail Service, Pan American Airways, and the U.S. Army Air Corps.
Rockwell or its employees have shared the award five times previously:
-- In 1953, James H. Kindelberger of Rockwell's predecessor North American Aviation was honored for his work on the land-based F-100 aircraft.
-- In 1961, A. Scott Crossfield of North American Aviation was among a team of X-15 experimental aircraft test pilots honored for their technological contributions to the advancement of flight.
-- In 1968, the award was presented to the crew of Apollo 8, representing the entire U.S. space flight team (including prime contractor Rockwell) for the success of the first manned lunar orbit mission.
-- In 1976, Rockwell, the U.S. Air Force and the B-1B industry team, were honored for the development of the B-1B strategic aircraft system.
-- In 1981, Rockwell was honored along with NASA, Martin Marietta, Thiokol and the entire government/industrial team for development of the Space Shuttle.
Under management of a Joint Program Office at the U.S. Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., Rockwell's Space Systems Division, Downey and Seal Beach, Calif., designed, built, and tested 11 developmental Navstar GPS satellites, developed and qualified a second-generation production prototype, and is building 28 production Navstar GPS satellites under a $1.35 billion contract awarded in 1983. Rockwell also provides launch processing and on-orbit support and produces GPS user equipment.
The National Aeronautic Association, founded in 1905 as the Aero Club of the United States, has as its mission "the advancement of the art, sport and science of aviation and space." The Aero Club and NAA have served as custodians of the Collier Trophy since it was first awarded more than eight decades ago. The original trophy is on permanent display at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum.
Rockwell International is a multi-industry company applying advanced technology to a wide range of products in its electronics, aerospace, automotive, and graphics businesses.
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/CONTACT: Alan Buis of Rockwell, 310-922-1856/
(ROK)

CO: Rockwell International Corp. ST: California IN: ARO SU:

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